What is your experience in adapting other tripods or mounts to work with a Bren?

[MrNatural]

I'd like to add a tripod to my Bren gun setup. Bren-specific tripods are pricey and uncommon.

I already have a tripod for my Browning 1919 that I'd like to use. German Lafette tripods designed for the MG34 or MG42 are readily available. Not to mention the various vehicle mounts available for belt-feds.

So has anyone done work on adapting a tripod for a Browning 1919 or a German Lafette MG42-type tripod or any other type of mount to work with a Bren?

I'd be interested to hear the experiences of others. I'd rather not re-invent the wheel if I can help it.

Information

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[tombear]

Not had to do it myself but I do have the D.D.(E.) for a Bren to Vickers tripod adapter. Also got the drawings for various other Bren mountings like for the Pedestal, Motley etc.

I've not loaded my files onto the new computer so can't say exactly what . Kev, Do you have a list of the mounting DD(E) ? I know theres the Indian para Bren tripod that was a rip off of the M1919A4s so that may be of use.

ATB

Tom

[Peter Laidler]

India did indeed use the M1919 tripod to take a Bren. Will be simplicity itself given a bit of savvy, a lathe and a bit of nous I'd say. Where there's a will, there's a way. Or as the smart Indians say with an eye on their wallets, where there's a will, there's a SIMPLE way...........

[tombear]

I have a copy of the Indian mount drawings which are dimensioned if i remember tight but they are on a disc at the moment and we don't even have paint shop pro or whatever installed yet for me to cut and paste etc the relevant sections and the files themselves are going to be the huge as scanned in versions so not suitable for putting up.

Does anyone have a copy to hand who can oblige?

I vaguely recall copying the Indian , what are they called, like a List of Changes entry? Announcement that they were available to issue, in the Leeds Pattern Room Library.

Sorry, not with it today. Probably should have worn a mask when I was turning some yew earlier...

ATB

Tom

[browningautorifle]

Probably should have worn a mask when I was turning some yew earlier...

[tankhunter]

I saw an adaptor on Ebay that fit's onto the top of the German Bundeswher AA Tripod. I THINK it was a parts seller in Greece who was selling them? Looks VERY simple to make. Just a round bar bored out enough to fit the spigot
on top. A retaining plunger made & fitted also. The top was filed flat on either side to fit in between the twin runners underneath the Butt slide. & a hole bored to take the front mounting pin.

These are marketed as genuine Foreign Army issue adaptors. But to my mind, would be VERY simple to make one yourself!

[TactAdv]

Okay, here are some pix of the new adapter made to fit a stock Bren lower onto the common Bundeswehr MG3 Flugabwehr Flak-Stativ......stand-up mount.

We all much prefer to shoot whatever the Hell we can adapt to these MG3 tripods, as standing up is much easier to traverse against random ground targets at a shoot, plus the only reasonable way to support most LMG's for shooting at model airplanes.

This is a VERY simple design, made by a local here....you could surely copy one by just looking at the basic form pictured, but for the couple bones he's asking ($40.00), it isn't worth my time to do the set-ups to carve one up, so I just tossed him the bones for it. It's nice, nothing special but works as intended.

We make up these adapters for anything we can figure out......I attached some other pictures showing various other MG's I have adapted to the MG3 AA tripod. It's a workhorse mount for fun shooting!!

-TomH

[Kev G]

Tom (Bear)

Entry from Indian M.G.O.


ATB Kevin

[Peter Laidler]

Those anti-aircraft tripods for MG's aren't unlike the Mk1 Bren tripods. The down-side is that there's a bit of unease about taking on aircraft, stood behind, say a wall or vehicle while shooting tracer at them. The trouble is that by definition, they are up there actually LOOKING for trouble and have 20mm cannons. You pi55 them off at 700 yards with 7.62 and they REALLY pi55 you off at 1mile with 20mm. And they immediately know your position because you've just been shooting at them. Nope........... not a fair contest. I say leave aircraft for blowpipe!

[Beerhunter]

Bren-specific tripods are pricey and uncommon.t.

Good news for those of us who own one. I'm thinking of disposing of mine, a scruffy BSA Mk.1, c/w a Mk.1M Bren in a box with all the bits. I guess I should ask a good price for it.